Dismal Cup Display = Shock Exit

EASTLEIGH 0-3 GOSPORT BOROUGH - 12/12/2006

Daily Echo Report



12th December 2006 - Eastleigh 0-3 Gosport Borough
RUSSELL COTES CUP - Report by Ray Murphy


A repeat of last seasons Russell Cotes Cup Final, saw Eastleigh defeated in their first match in this season’s competition to the current holders. A side that saw only two players in the starting line up that had started the game at Bishops Stortford in the Nationwide Conference three days earlier, were comprehensively beaten by the Wessex Leaguers.

For manager Jason Dodd it was a learning exercise with many of the Eastleigh players performing in front of him for the first time. For Gosport their reward was to claim a third Nationwide South scalp this season and a Third Round tie at home to Moneyfields.

Gosport showed early intentions with striker Neil Scammell testing Eastleigh goalkeeper Wayne Shaw. It took the visitors sixteen minutes to open the scoring. Danny Thompson’s right wing cross was guided home at the near post by the head of Stuart Findlay.

Eastleigh produced a few chances, Phil Cousins’ shot midway through the half brought a save from ex Eastleigh stopper Mark Brown then on thirty six minutes Stuart Douglas back in the first team for the first time in seven months broke through the Gosport defence but hit his effort wide of the target.

As the half was drawing to a close, the dangerous Findlay got in behind Eastleigh debutant Scott Gilham and laid the ball back for Gavin Keogh to fire a low shot into the net and put Gosport two ahead.

The match was wrapped up on seventy-one minutes. Shaw’s goal kick was headed back into the path of Findlay by Scammell, Findlay’s pace again taking him beyond the Eastleigh defence before slotting the ball past Shaw for Gosport’s third goal.

Eastleigh created several chances after this but were facing an uphill struggle. Liam Green's free kick was saved by Brown then Ben Bosley headed a Jack Smith cross just wide of the target. In the closing stages Bosley created himself an opening but fired over then Andy Weston carved out a chance that was also stopped by Brown.

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